EARLY GATTERs OF THE AMERICAN EAST COAST

(Part Two)

Gatters as early Settlers in Pennsylvania


In the mid 1700s another Gatter family makes its appearance on the American east coast. The first mention of the Gatter family in Pennsylvania is in 1750 when a Martin Gatter was married on 8, April 1750 in Trappe, Montgomery County, PA (adjacent to Philadelphia) at the Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church.


Philadelphia Harbor in the 1850s

The bride was Maria Catherine Schäferin. They lived in Philadelphia (Source: Pennsylvania German Church Records, Volume I.). In the "Naturalizations of Foreign Protestants in the American and West Indian Colonies" we find on page 161 (index of persons) reference to the same or another Martin Gatter:

Foreigners' Names: GATTER, Martin.
Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia.
Sacrament when taken: April 14th, 1754.Age: 49

Since he is referred to as "foreigner", it seems likely that he was born abroad and is thus first generation in the US.

Another Martin Gatter appears 20 years later in the Philadelphia Indentures 1771-1773:

Date: 25 Aug 1772
Name: GATTER, Martin
Port Location: -
Whom Indentured: Michael Groce and his assigns
Residence: Northern Liberties

Occupation:

 

Apprentice, taught the trade of a cordwainer, one year schooling at Dutch, and six months' at English, after he arrives at the age of 12 years.
Term: 16 yrs., 2 mo., 11 d.

If the three Martins are related is not clear. It is however strange that we find yet another individual by this name - the baker Martin Gatter, who apparently died in 1771 in Philadelphia County:

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1819:

Description Name Residence Title Page
Date
Prove Date
Remarks
Decedent Martin GATTER Philadelphia Baker Q:434
13 12 1771
6 12 1784
Remarks: Martin GATTER. Phila. Baker. 13 Dec 1771. 6 Dec 1784.
Wife Catherine Elizabeth Spiegle
-
-
Q:434
13 12 1771
6 12 1784
Remarks: Wife: Catherine. Elizabeth Spiegle, daughter of John Ramius Spiegle. Exec. and Guardian: Philip Beam, shop keeper. Q:434.

 

Philadelphia and surroundings in 1750

 

His wife is listed in the Will Book as "Gather, Catherine" of Philadelphia on April 20, 1784. "Widow of Martin Gather (laborer)."

In the first US Census of 1790 also a Martin Gatter appears. This is Martin Gatter of York County (Mixed Township). In his household live besides him 1 "free male under 16 years, and 5 "free white females". He posesses no slaves:

 

In the 1800 US census the Gatters are absent in Philadelphia. They may have been overlooked by the registering agent or their name may have simpy been misspelled or falesly transcribed when the data base was computerized.

In the 1810 census we find the Pennsylvania Gatters again: Martin Gatter, shoemaker, living on No(rth) Mulberry, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He posesses no slaves and no other free persons are living in his household. The Gatter family consists of eight people: 2 "free white males" below 10 years of age, one between 16 and 25, and one over 45 years of age... very likely Martin Gatter, the head of the household himself. There are further one "free white female" below 10 years, two between 10 and 15, one between 16 and 25 and finally the lady of the house, above with 45 years.

 

 

This Martin Gatter (shoemaker) seems to have lived until around 1839.

We find him again in the 1820 census, and in the Philadelphia Directories he appears as "cordwainer" (=shoemaker) on 19, Mulburry Street in the years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1837 and for a last time 1839.

In the early 1800s we come accross some other scattered Gatters in Pennsylvania:

However, the more information we gather the more difficult things seem to become. There were not only Gatter males in Pennsylvania that were named "Martin", as we can see from this Parish Register enrty:

Name: Rebecca GATTER
Christening: 1 Jul 1807
Place: Saint Johns Lutheran Church, Catawissa, Columbia, Pennsylvania
Parents: Jacob GATTER & Christina


An there is yet more on a Martin Gatter. In the Philadelphia "Deed Grantee Index 1821-1830" (Mormon Film #1318547, Item 3) there is a listing for Martin Gatter (Grantee) and Miriam Gatter (Grantor). The full record is in Book G.W.R. #1, page 681.

In the 1830 Census, the only Gatter we find in Pennsylvania is Thomas Gatter (Philadelphia County, Philadelphia Township, Upper Delaware Ward). He is between 20-30 years of age and in the household live his wife (20-30 years) amd a child (male 5-10 years old).

 


 

The Philadelphia Line

The Philadelphia line first appears in 1844 and is listed in that year in the Philadelphia Directory with William Gatter, (born ca. 1795-1810). He was a cooper by occupation, as were his sons. William may have been a son of Martin Gatter, the cordwainer listed in the Philadelphia Directories between 1829 and 1839. So far we have no documentary proof for this, but since Martin seems to have been the only Gatter living in Philadelphia at that time, this seems quite possible.

The family tree of the Philadelphia Gatters could look like this, but note that the early generations are just a guess. Much research remains to be done:

 

Martin Gatter.. oo. Maria Catherine Schäferin
di.1705-1754.......married 1750............... .........................
¦....................
.? ....................
¦...................
.....................Martin Gatter
.. oo. Catherine Elizabeth Spiegle..................
died 1771......................................................
¦....................
.? ....................
¦....................
Martin Gatter
..
...................
shoemaker on Mulburry St.......................
¦....................
.? ....................
¦....................
William Gatter.. oo.. Catherine Fry...
....born ca. 1800..............ca. 1800 - 1872 ....
¦.
¦

_____________________¦_____________________
¦ ...............................................¦..
..............................................¦.
.........Robert Gatter.................. William Gatter ...............Henry Charles Gatter
..........born ca. 1830
.........................born ca. 1830.........................born 16. Nov. 1844
died Civil War 1864...............................¦................................................¦...............
........................................
.descendants?...................................¦
....................................................................................................¦
....................................................................................................¦
_____________________________________________________¦_________ ..
¦ .................................¦ .................................¦..
................................¦....................................¦...
....Lily................. Thomas............. Harry Philip........... Anna .................Elizabeth
¦....
descendants

 

 

A possible descendant of this line is:

HARRY COOPER GATTER, who was born around 1861 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died there in 1919. He married CHARLOTTE KIMBLE CLIVER in Philadelphia, daughter of CLIVER and SARAH CLIVER. She was born August 29, 1870 in Philadelphia, and died there in November 1952.

Children of HARRY GATTER and CHARLOTTE CLIVER are:

1. EMMA GATTER
2. MABEL WALLACE GATTER, b. May 1892, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3. MARY FLORENCE GATTER, b. October 13, 1893, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; d. May 1968, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. WILLIAM FRITZ GATTER, b. December 17, 1895, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; d. March 1952, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5. HARRY SCHAFER GATTER, b. October 29, 1900, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; d. December 11, 1963, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6. MYRTLE SARAH GATTER, b. August 26, 1908, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; d. January 15, 1997, Avondale, Pennsylvania
7. MELVIN WESLEY GATTER, b. September 22, 1911, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; d. May 06, 1964, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. CLARA MAE GATTER, b. March 23, 1883, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; d. November 1972, Somerdale, New Jersey



DNA-Testing
of the Philadelphia and New York Lines

Recent genetic testing has shown that the Philadelphia lines very likely to share a common ancestor with the new York line presented in the following. Their DNA closely matches.

This common ancestor definitely lived before the year 1800, since back till then we have documentary proof for both of these line and there is no apparent match that would link the two. Given a common ancestry, we of course have no indication whether this common ancestor lived in the US, or lived much further back in time in Europe. Two individuals born in Europe being descending from the same family might have made the journey across the Atlantic on their own, at different times and to different destinations. Besides the above John Gatter (Gater/Gator) who arrived in 1620, this Philadelphia-New York family is the oldest one on the American continent that we have gained knowledge of. While most Gatters came to the US after 1850, this family has been established in America well before the year 1800.

 


Click here for Part One

Click here for Part Three

 

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